GB2436513A

GB2436513A - An edible coated with a layer of modified cellulose

Info

Publication number: GB2436513A
Application number: GB0605668A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Anthony Watson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-21
Filing date: 2006-03-21
Publication date: 2007-10-03
Also published as: GB0605668D0

Abstract

A edible and biodegradable food container is coated on the inside with a layer of modified cellulose. The modified cellulose provides an impermeable layer which resists mild acid and does not melt or dissolve in hot or cold liquids. The container may be consumed after the food which it contains is consumed. The edible container may be made from a biscuit type base, containing flours of various types such as potato flour. The edible container may comprise a flavour which is dusted on or incorporated into the container. Supplements such as carotene, caffeine or vitamin C may be added to the container during manufacture or by dusting. The edible container may be in the form of a tray, cup, cone or serviette.

Description

Description

appears right at the very beginning, there are other products similar, however These are shown below.

The patent application concerns a food container for hot or cold, food or liquids, made substantially of edible material or materials.

The article produced according to the invention is a new and innovative way of serving or displaying food and or drinks to the public and commercially. The Functionality of these products is self explanatory, in that there is a diverse number of uses this invention can be applied to, by way of example Chip trays I fruit displays on supermarket displays I drinks containers, serviettes, when used to serve food in as with kebabs Etc. but is not limited to the aforementioned.

It is stated here the product is unique and innovative, in that the technique is simple and can be mass produced at a relatively low cost, is a single process for coating the products. However a further process or combination process may be added in that a dusting process of flavouring and or vitamin mix can be applied.

The method of applying the coating material described separately. May be, but not restricted to the pouring in of the viscous coating emptying out and simply allowing to dry or form of assisted drying, whilst maintaining the shape. Spray application can (by way of example) also be used. Modified cellulose which is ethanol soluble modified cellulose is less invasive and shape retention presents no problem at all.

The bases for the coatings are two forms of modified cellulose, but not restricted to -water soluble modified cellulose and ethanol soluble, modified cellulose the water soluble modified cellulose needs up to 30% sugar or sugar derivatives added to make the final coating insoluble to hot or cold liquids. The ethanol soluble modified cellulose however needs no such additives at all, and is indeed also impermeable by mild acid such as vinegar or mild acids found in fruit, thus making it useful not only for hotIcold food and liquids but also can be used for presentation storage in (By way of example only) a tray design, which can be used in supermarket display's. Thus the versatility of my new product determines its use in that, by altering the shape and configuration the product can be used for food trays (Chip trays etc.) hot drinks cups, but not restricted to the aforesaid and mentioned

previously in various and in other prior art.

The Invention can be adapted for use as paper, as in by way of example rice paper coated and used for edible biodegradable, sheet paper or bags thus replacing the tissues (serviettes), which are used to serve kebabs in, are generally discarded ending up on the floor. Various shapes of containers for different applications can be made, by way of example, cone or tray shape for food such as chips, beaker shape for hot or cold drinks, sweet wrappers, as again mentioned above sheet form or bags for the containment of various goods such as kebabs.

The invention is not restricted to the containment of edible type goods but may be applied to a wide variety of goods which require packaging.

The various materials can also be coloured to make them more: -appetising decorative and novel.

Prior Art

Vessels made with edible materials are in fact already known.

Patent DE-A-4218392 describes a procedure for realising a cup for eating and drinking, which once used, can be eaten.

This patent clearly states that in order to make the edible pastry stable and impermeable, a certain quantity of macrcmolecular former such as xantorrea, is added which makes the pastry impermeable even to hot drinks.

In this procedure, the pastry to which a macromolecular former has been added, is pressed in the mould and baked at the same time.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,927,655 describes a procedure for moulding an edible vessel made of a pastry used in ice cream wafers, according to which the pastry is made by mixing sugar with wheat flour and adding oil, fat, eggs and water.

The pastry made in this way is placed and baked in a special mould in order to obtain an edible vessel of the shape and dimensions required.

This patent provides no teaching as to how to make the edible vessel Impermeable ard capable of keeping its shape and compactness when in contact with hot liquid such as coffee or tea, for a certain length of time.

Patent FR-A-2437996 describes an edible vessel for packaging which consists substantially of a vessel shaped biscuit made of a common edible pastry to which special substances are added to ensure a long shelf life.

This biscuit s coated with a chocolate and sugar icing layer which stops the biscuit from absorbing cold and moisture.

Therefore this coating does not make the biscuit impermeable, on the other hand it is clearly stated in this patent that said vessel shaped biscuit must not be used to hold drinks but only for making cakes, ice cream cakes etc. Patent Number US6068866 This patent is close but differs significantly in that my invention uses different, more adaptable and production able materials. It will be seen above, and is here summarized, that the invention incorporates two methods of coatings Differs in that The bases for my coatings are, modified cellulose whose properties lend themselves to these containers / utensils, these products once completed are also impermeable to mild acid such as vinegar or acids found in fruit, rendering it useful for not only hot and cold liquids and food but also can be used for presentation storage in (By way of example only) tray form in supermarket display's. Thus the versatility of my new product determines its use in that, by altering the shape and configuration the product can be used for food trays (Chip trays etc.) hot drinks cups, but not restricted to the aforesaid and mentioned

previously in various other prior art forms.

Patent Number US6068866 The purpose of this invention is to realise a mono-use edible vessel which can hold hot 3.

drinks, even for a considerable length of time, without loosing its stability.

e vessel in question is made of a pastry like that used for making ice cream wafers; said pastry must be moulded and baked in the same was as ice cream wafers.

In view of the foregoing, it is not retained necessary to provide a detailed description of the ingredients and the moulding process of the edible cup according to the invention in that, as previously mentioned, the same is made with a pastry and process identical to those used for making ice cream wafers whose ingredients and moulding and baking processes are well known.

The feature of the cup according to the invention is that its inner walls are coated with a water proofing layer made with a sugar based substance of the type used in sugar coated almonds.

In this regard, it should be noted that it is well known that the sugar coating of almonds is impermeable and melts, only after a considerable length of time, when in contact with liquids, even if these are hot.

The particular resistance to liquids of this sugar coating is due to the fact that it is not simply sugar icing (of the type used to coat the vessel described in patent FR-A-2437996), but a mixture of sugar and starches, which make the coating particularly hard and impermeable.

For major clarity the description of the item continues with reference to the enclosed drawing which is intended for the purpose of illustration and not in a limiting sense, in which FIG. I shows an axonometric view of the edible container according to the invention, in its handle-less version.

Even if it is not retained to be necessary to describe how this impermeable coating of the cup according to the invention is made, in that the same is made, as mentioned above, with the same ingredients (in themselves known) and with the same procedure (in itself known) used for making the sugar based layer of sugar coated almonds, it is pointed out that layer coating the cup consists of a mixture of: sugar or its surrogates, water starches, such as corn starches or albumin, Arabian gum.

The starches have a hardening and impermeabilizing action in order to obtain a compact, hard and impermeable layer; the Arabian gum on the other hand acts as an additional waterproofing agent.

This preliminary description already conveys the numerous advantages inherent to the article according to the invention, taking into account the fact that it is designed to be eaten by the user after consumption of the drink.

Owners of public catering concerns who adopt such edible cups would no longer have to bear the cost of purchasing ceramic cups, nor the expense inherent to washing them.

Moreover, considering the fact that such cups are strictly disposable, it can easily be understood that their regular use in a catering concern would safeguard customers against oral transmission of contagious diseases.

Compared to paper cups, on the other hand, the edible cups in question are preferable in that they do not generate any accumulation of solid waste.

In addition--beyond all practical, sanitary and economic concerns--it must be stressed that he cup in question is further appreciated and relished by the user, who--having enjoyed the drink contained in it--may then go on to eat the cup itself, tasting its delicious wafer.

In such perspective, it is easy to see that to better satisfy the more demanding consumer's palate, the pastry used in making such cup may be of a neutral flavour, or of any other flavour as desired, for instance vanilla, cream, coffee, or honey, etc. Thus the same customer may choose, in turn, the favourite flavoured cup in relation to the drink to be served in it.

Likewise, the pastry may contain added vitamins, making it particularly suitable for children.

Claims

What is claimed, is: ç 1. An edible and biodegradable food container

used for food or drink comprising: by way of example, a biscuit type base formed in the shape, of by way of example only, a tray having inner walls, coated on the inner walls of the, (by way of example only) chip tray, the coating consisting essentially of "modified cellulose" such that the coating forms a compact, and impermeable layer which resists mild acid hot and cold liquids and does not dissolve nor melt when hot or cold materials are contained their in. and where the container and the coating may be eaten after the food is consumed.

2. The edible container of claim 1, wherein the material to make the container can be made from flour, of various types, potatoes starch, or similar edible products, which lend themselves to being formed into reasonably strong shapes whilst maintaining the texture and palatability to be eaten.

3. The edible container of claim 1, where the inner surface needs to be, prior to coating reasonable smooth, but may have convex, concave, or indeed any shape to give added strength, whilst maintaining a light edible consistency.

4. The edible container of claim I can also be shaped in various ways for added visual appea! which could be in the form of (by way of example) current and or topical cartoon characters or symbols, also to give added strength, as mentioned previously in the edible food container of claim I at claim 3 4. The edible container of claim 1, wherein the coating is modified cellulose. Or similar product of various manufacturers, by way of example Methocel or Ethocel 5. The edible container of claim 1, wherein flavour can be dust coated onto the container or incorporated in the producing of the container.

6. The edible container of claim 1, wherein supplements can be added to the container in manufacture or by dusting after manufacture, thus varying there supplemental and or nutritional capabilities, by way of example they could have fat burning additives such as Carotene / Caffeine. Or vitamin C to aid in various supplemental needs.

7. The container of claim 1 can have the surface smoothed by using by way of example a polyunsaturated fat or oil to re treat the surface ensuring the coating is not absorbed but allowing the smoothing deposit to soak in and to dry somewhat so the final protective coating does not form globules whilst drying instead of a smooth protective coating which would render the coating ineffective. The Ethanol soluble modified cellulose is particularly suitable for the due to its ability to combine with the fats or oils.

8. The containment articles, herein will have a wide appeal to both children and adults also environmentalists, councils, sellers. For there own individual reasons.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows What is claimed, is: - 1. An edible and biodegradable food container used for food or drink comprising: by way of example, a biscuit type base formed in the shape, of by way of example on tray having inner walls, coated on the inner walls of the, (by way of example only) chii tray, the coating consisting essentially of modified cellulose" such that the coating for compact, and impermeable layer which resists mild acid hot and cold liquids and does dissolve nor melt when hot or cold materials are contained their in. and where the container and the coating may be eaten after the food is consumed.

2. The edible container of claim 1, wherein the material to make the container can be made from flour, of various types, potatoes starch, or similar edible products, which le themselves to being formed into reasonably strong shapes whilst maintaining the text' and palatability to be eaten.

3. The edible container of claim 1, where the inner surface needs to be, prior to coatir reasonable smooth, but may have convex, concave, or indeed any shape to give add strength, whilst maintaining a tight edible consistency.

4. The edible container of claim I can also be shaped in various ways for added visu appeal which could be in the form of (by way of example) current and or topical cartoc characters or symbols, also to give added strength, as mentioned previously in the ed food container of claim I at claim 3 4. The edible container of claim I, wherein the coating is modified cellulose. Or simila product of various manufacturers, by way of example Methocel or Ethocel.

5. The edible container of claim 1, wherein flavour can be dust coated onto the contai or incorporated in the producing of the container.

6. The edible container of claim 1, wherein supplements can be added to the containE manufacture or by dusting after manufacture, thus varying there supplemental and or nutritional capabilities, by way of example they could have fat burning additives such Carotene I Caffeine. Or vitamin C to aid in various supplemental needs.

7. The container of claim I can have the surface smoothed by using by way of examp polyunsaturated fat or oil to pre treat the surface ensuring the coating is not absorbed allowing the smoothing deposit to soak in and to dry somewhat so the final protective coating does not form globules whilst drying instead of a smooth protective coating wi would render the coating ineffective. The Ethanol soluble modified cellulose is particul suitable for this due to its ability to combine with the fats or oils.